GM, the Teflon Company Run by a Safety-Loving Mom

GM had a bad day Monday, as bad news poured out of Detroit. But on Tuesday it seems investors and consumers had shrugged it all off.

DETROIT (TheStreet) -- GM (GM) had what can be viewed as a disastrous day on Monday, It recalled 8.4 million vehicles, bringing the year's total to 29 million recalls. Details of a compensation plan also were announced, adding an estimated $300 million to GM costs.

But on Tuesday, GM announced surprisingly strong June sales results. Sales rose 1%, despite forecasts that they would show a decline in the mid-single digits. This occurred even as sales of the Cruze, GM's most popular car and second most popular vehicle after the Silverado, were halted on June 26 because of a potential air bag defect.

GM shares rose 2.8% to $37.33 on Tuesday.

The success of GM's redesigned full-sized SUVs "is driving up GM's average transaction price even as overall sales grow," said Kelley Blue Book analyst Karl Brauer, in a prepared statement. "The result is a GM at pre-recession health levels, recalls be damned."

Is GM now a Teflon company, loved by consumers despite what the news reports say? That seems hard to believe, given that not long ago the specter of "Government Motors," bailed out by the federal government, was a staple talking point for the Obama haters. But that was seemingly forgotten on Tuesday.

Perhaps this is simply a case in which a rising tide lifts all boats. Overall, 2014 GM sales are up 2.5% through June while industry sales were up 5% through May. But GM has some bigger winners. Year to date, Chevrolet's small cars -- Cruze, Spark, and Sonic -- gained a combined 11% to 218,027 sales. Buick sales rose 12.5% to 113,472 units.